Bristol through to Reading

by Foxwell, Bale and Bartholomew

From Bristol through to Reading the waterway does run
And now instead of working boats the pleasure boats have come
Yet who is really to complain
The cut has come alive again
So raise a cheer and drink a health to the K&A Canal

In '54 a Bill was raised to close the old cut down
But people fought in Parliament and won the crucial round
The fight's gone on as you can see
This year's the year of victory
So take a glass and raise it high to K&A Canal

There have been some local heroes who stood above the rest
Whose courage and whose vision have shown them to be the best
Without them what would we have got?
I think the answer's not a lot
So pour a good and generous tot to celebrate this day

In 1810 through traffic went from Reading down to Bath
And now this 1990 sees once more that boats can pass
The race is won and we're all here
To raise a great and mighty cheer
And drink a pint or two of beer to the K&A Canal
The race is won and we're all here
To raise a great and mighty cheer
And drink a pint or two of beer to the K&A Canal

This song was written for the re-opening of the Kennett and Avon Canal in 1990.